Melvin ponders lineup shift

"I can tell you that Ichiro will not be a leadoff hitter in every game in spring training," Melvin said at a media gathering at Safeco Field that is preliminary to the Mariners' sixth annual FanFest this weekend.

"Last year I was reluctant to do it because we were winning and Ichiro's a natural there. But he could bat other places in the lineup. And he will if that's what it takes to make us a better team. We didn't get to the playoffs last year, so we've got to make some changes. That could be one of them."

Melvin said he would talk to Ichiro about the move early in spring training. Although Ichiro has shown a fondness for the leadoff spot, Melvin didn't see a problem with having the career .328 hitter moving down in the lineup.

"All Ichiro wants is a chance to prepare himself mentally for any kind of switch," Melvin said. "He wants to be fully prepared for any kind of change."

As for Olerud, Melvin said getting the first baseman to rebound from an off year (.269, 10 homers, 83 RBIs) would be like "adding an extra half player."

Olerud is one of the best contact hitters in the game, a player who works the count. Those are ideal qualities in a hit-and-run spot in the lineup like the No. 2 hole.

"Those elements of his game you can't use when he bats fifth behind Edgar (Martinez)," Melvin said. "So we'll take a look at him batting second and see if that works for us."

MAELS-TROM: The Mariners had former GM Pat Gillick and Latin America baseball expert Bob Engle in San Salvador yesterday to watch the workout of Maels Rodriguez, the Cuban pitcher with lightning in his right arm.

Rodriguez, a former Cuban national team star who defected late last year, was throwing for scouts for the first time since being declared a free agent. He was working with another defector, Yobal Duenas, a second baseman.

"Bob and Pat saw (Rodriguez) and were satisfied with the range of the workouts and with Yobal Duenas," general manager Bill Bavasi said late yesterday. "They felt they saw enough to have a good grasp of (Rodriguez's) abilities."

Rodriguez has had shoulder and back trouble, so his goal yesterday was to show he's able to return to his 100-mph fastball. Rodriguez did not top 90 mph during the workout. Scouts from Anaheim, both New York teams, Boston and Texas were among those joining Gillick and Engle.

Afterward, Engle got instructions to tell Rodriquez's agent that the Mariners would sit back and monitor the situation, Bavasi said, indicating they aren't ready to make a move.

Seattle may be waiting to see if the Yankees or Red Sox are going to lavish money on the right-hander. If not, the Mariners might be willing to make a play for him.

If so, it will take more than just one throwing session for the Mariners to get on board with Rodriguez. As Bavasi said yesterday, "We won't set the market" for Rodriguez. Last year, Boston and Seattle finished as distant runners-up in the bidding for Cuban defector Jose Contreras, who got a four-year, $32 million contract from the Yankees.

Bavasi said the Mariners would want to have Rodriguez's arm and back examined. There would be no deal without it.

"We won't sign him off one workout," Bavasi said. "We'd probably have him throw again. My guess is that this guy is going to get a few physicals. But you don't know if he's going to want to do that."

KAZ AND PUDGE: Bavasi is treating Kazuhiro Sasaki as if he's still on the roster -- which he is.

However, Sasaki has made it clear through his agent, Tony Attanasio, he wants to get out of his contract and stay in Japan, leaving the $9.5 million he's owed behind.

While it seems possible the paperwork could be completed by next week, Bavasi said yesterday "he's on the club and he's our closer. He's got a chance to change his mind."

The Mariners don't expect that to happen, but there will be no moves made by the Mariners before Sasaki's departure is finalized.

That means free-agent players the Mariners might be interested in could sign elsewhere.

One of those is 10-time All-Star catcher Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez, although the club won't specifically express a level of interest.

"I'm not going to waste (agent) Scott Boras' time (talking about Rodriguez now)," Bavasi said. "I don't want to hold him up. I don't want to say that we're on the verge of being able to sign (Rodriguez).

"Scott knows exactly what is going on. He's on top of it. And there's a chance guys could sign and vanish."

Boras said he would give a counteroffer today to Detroit, the one team that has said it would pay Rodriguez handsomely. Detroit has offered a four-year, $40 million contract.

GREAT SCOTT: Scott Spiezio, who has spent most of the past four years at first base for the Angels, will be the Mariners' third baseman this year.

He was asked how good a third baseman he can be.

"I'm a great third baseman when I get the chance to play there a lot," Spiezio said with evident good humor. "I've been working on things like making the long throws and barehanded pickups of bunts already.

"But I always was a first baseman in college and the minor leagues, and I always thought I would get back to third base. But after playing so long at first base, I was beginning to think maybe it wouldn't happen."

NOTES: Bavasi, asked to rank the four AL West teams going into spring training, went with Anaheim, Seattle, Oakland and Texas, in that order. "Seattle and Oakland are real close," Bavasi said. "The Angels spent money wisely, and they spent a lot of it. I think Oakland or Seattle could get them." ... Former No. 1 draft pick Ryan Anderson, who has missed three years with arm troubles, has been given clearance to play catch. ... The Mariners have reinstated minor league second baseman Evel Bastida-Martinez, who was suspended from the Inland Empire California League team at midseason after going after an opposing player with a bat during a game.

P-I reporter John Hickey can be reached at 206-448-8004 or johnhickey@seattlepi.com

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